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Green Google Whiplash

Yesterday, Google announced that it was backing a $30 million prize to land a rover on the Moon, “to revive the interest for exploring the Moon.”

Geeks cheered.

A few days earlier, Google announced that it was launching an $10 million RFP as part of its initiative to “accelerate the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid technology.” Google says its committed to “finding innovative transportation solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.”

Enviros cheered.

Forgive me for being simplistic, but I’ve always worried about the let’s go to the Moon and let’s go to Mars fan clubs. It’s all too often accompanied by the next thought which is, we screwed up this planet. We need to find somewhere else to live. Not to mention all the energy these kinds of exploits use up.

Like it or not, there’s a little bit of inconsistency in everything green that Google does. A jumbo jet v. critizing carbon offsets.

Solar energy on the company’s headquarters v. no insight into how much energy their massive datacenters suck up.